Keep my boss from taking credit for my work.

February 21, 2012 11:15 PM

How do I keep my somewhat petty, probably vindictive boss from taking credit for writing all of the online content that I write for the company website?

I want to be sure for the sake of my resume that if he tells fibs or "exaggerates", I still have a sufficient way to show that the work was done by me.

posted by KoiPond to Work & Money (7 answers total)

If the context of him fibbing or exaggerating is giving you a reference, it probably won't come up--managers in large organizations are often forbidden from offering any evaluation of you as part of a reference, and managers in small organizations are wise not to either. Plus he has no real reason to take credit for your work when speaking to your future employer (it's not like he's the one trying to get hired). If the context is within your own organization, what I'd recommend is going out of your way to share credit in all things with as many people as you can, because social capital multiplies more easily than it's spent.

But as a direct, practical answer, maybe just keep a portfolio of your writing, the coherence and consistency of which may tend to demonstrate a common primary author, and submit that as a writing sample where appropriate. It's not unassailable proof, but I can't imagine it would be attacked in a context where it matters.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 11:35 PM on February 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

seconding MC's comment about external references.

if it's internal you're worried about, how is content loaded into the site? if it's a CMS, your edits should carry your login. if you use a VCS then again your commits should be tagged with your name. if you just provide text to someone else who actually loads it in then submit that text via. email with a comment like "here's the revised website copy you requested. regards, KoiPond"
posted by russm at 11:40 PM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

If your company has a newsletter or monthly report statement or email blast, arrange to have a small blurb announcing any major content releases by you. Or perhaps get written up as you talk about your work ('Meet the Content Creator.')
posted by Hardcore Poser at 11:54 PM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Once you've completed the work, or something significant has happened, email your boss and CC your second line manager and other stakeholders effected.

"Hi Marilyn, FYI I've updated those 25 product pages and rewritten all that copy, if you (or you Lisa and Jorge) have any questions or other suggestions, please don't hesitate to get in touch,
Thanks,
Me."

Obviously, you can't do this for every minor piece of work.
posted by smoke at 12:18 AM on February 22, 2012 [17 favorites]

An associate of mine a number of years ago had a problem like this with a boss, and proceeded to arrange her writing so the first letters of the first four sentences of everything she wrote would spell her first name.

If you can sneak in something like that, it might help you out.
posted by mephron at 12:31 AM on February 22, 2012 [17 favorites]

If you're best buds with the webmaster, you could be very sneaky and ask them to add a "text by koipond" comment in the code.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:36 AM on February 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Agree with smoke. Asking for feedback on final or draft copy from your boss, as well as others, on the same email. Can't do it for minor edits, but for big revisions or high profile items, would be expected and not seem out of line.
posted by rich at 5:39 AM on February 22, 2012 [1 favorite]